Don't doubt yourself and recognize your time might not be right now, but it is coming.
Those are the words Joshua (Shua) Marr wants everyone to remember.
The 28-year-old did something today he couldn’t do a decade ago with his peers: he walked across the stage as a high-school graduate.
“I had a lot of problems when I was younger,” said the Orillia Learning Centre (OLC) graduate. “I was expelled from school. It was unfortunate because I was a strong student and never skipped classes. The school was pretty disappointed that I didn't conform.”
Trouble with the law got him kicked out of the school and then Marr took a path that involved substance abuse and mischief - a path that didn’t take him anywhere but down.
And he didn't really get back on the right path in life until a little while ago, after he lost someone dear to him to an overdose.
”I decided I didn't want to do that to my family,” said Marr. “So, I got cleaned up and started back at work. But working in the winter was pretty hard so I thought I'd come back to school and try that out.”
When he was expelled from high school, he felt rejected, but getting his high school diploma and winning a Dual Credit Achievement Award Thursday at a ceremony held at Hawk Ridge Golf and Country Club made him feel pretty accomplished.
“I didn't really think it would ever happen,” said Marr, who wants to go back to school for post-secondary education next. “It hasn't been easy. I guess I worked hard because I just didn't want to let my mom down. She's proud of me, I know. I'm proud of me, I know I am.”
His peer, Emelie Eriksson, was experiencing a different emotion: shock.
“I wasn't expecting to get more than one award today, so it feels a bit shocking,” said the 25-year-old, after walking across the stage at least four times. “I never thought I would make it here, because sometimes life gets in the way.”
Eriksson said she dropped out of high school after it became overwhelming owing to her physical and mental health issues.
“I just quit,” said the Orillia resident. “I didn't really think anything of it.”
After she had three kids, who are all younger than six, Eriksson’s thinking changed.
“I didn't want them to grow up thinking there was any pressure on them, especially financially,” she said. “I want to provide for my kids, everything they need, everything they want and everything I didn't have.”
So Eriksson, who wants to be a police officer, went back to school to get herself on a career path.
“It's never too late,” she said, talking about her message to those who may be contemplating going back to school.
“As long as you're breathing, there's still hope to get it done. If you believe you can do it, then you can do anything you put your mind to. And if I can do it, anyone else can do it, trust me.”
Valedictorian Dave Lajambe shared similar sentiments.
“I never thought I’d be getting my diploma,” said the Parry Sound resident in his speech. “But I’ve gained friends, family, and knowledge from the learning centre.”
Lajambe credited his wife and teachers for making sure he graduated.
Sue Learmonth, coordinator of the OLC, said she couldn’t have been more proud of the 60 graduates, 25 of which were at the ceremony.
“I broke into tears a couple of times,” Learmonth said. “I'm very proud of them all. I'm fortunate enough to do intake with each one of them, so I get to see them to be heroes at the end of the day.”
Each student that comes through the OLC doors is given an individual learning plan based on a unique assessment that considers factors such as the number of credits they come in with, their age, and the path they want to take.
“If they're going off to college, we try to make sure they get their pre-requisites in at the same time,” said Learmonth. “The centre also assesses students on their own individual life needs, whether they need daycare, or is e-learning on in-class learning best for them.”
